Inevitable Debate Must Wait Until 2001

College football '97 - USF Bulls

With Central Florida In Transition In I-a And South Florida Just Beginning, Comparisons Will Follow.

August 29, 1997|By Mark Didtler and Jerry Greene of The Sentinel Staff

Central Florida and South Florida football. Comparisons are inevitable even if one is an older apple and the other a brand new orange.

Since USF will not join the NCAA Division I-A ranks until at least 2001, an on-the-field resolution is likely years away. The young Bulls were offered an immediate game by the I-A Golden Knights but, probably wisely, declined.

But that won't stop the debate. Which program has the most potential? Who is doing things right?

There are no instant answers, but one thing is certain: The Bulls have shown exceptional timing.

USF received an unexpected boost during its formative years when the 1995-96 stadium talks between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Hillsborough County soured.

The situation cast the Bulls in a favorable light, producing considerable local support. Couple that with a strong alumni base and you can see why 1997 season ticket sales topped 18,500 by mid-August. The numbers dwarf UCF's respectable effort approaching 8,000.

''We feel like they're part of the community,'' Tampa Bay City Council member Ronnie Mason said. ''They have so many alumni here. I didn't go there, but my daughters and grandson did. They're into the community.''

Although the Knights' top attendance average occurred almost a decade ago (approximately 26,000 in 1988), there are encouraging signs. Central Florida's average jumped 2,832 last season to 15,662.

In 1994, when the Knights met Division I-A attendance requirements, turnout topped 17,000. Now, a 19,000 average appears feasible for a four-game home schedule this season.

UCF attendance is likely to rise gradually as more recognizable opponents come to Orlando such as Purdue in 1999. Meanwhile, the Knights often will play before large crowds but all on the road against schools such as Nebraska and Auburn.

''We've got to earn the people who come to our games,'' UCF coach Gene McDowell said. ''Attendance around the country is not all that good, especially if you count people in the stands.''

Both programs have appeal beyond the box office. The Bulls have especially benefitted from the sports talk explosion and cable TV boom.

SportsChannel Florida, trying to establish a foothold against Sunshine Network, will carry six USF games. In addition, three contests will be on Tampa's WTOG-Channel 44.

Tampa radion station 820 AM (WTZM), facing stiff sports talk competition from two area rivals, sweetened its proposal by coordinating a six-station network.

''I've been somewhat surprised witnessing the excitement and enthusiasm for the return on a regular basis of college football to our community,'' USF Athletic Director Paul Griffin said. ''There was a lot of pent up excitement about college football in the community.''

UCF has its own TV deal, three-games on Sunshine Network. However, what is considered a less competitive sports radio market in Orlando finds 740 AM (WWNZ) as the Knights' lone radio outlet. UCF backers claim their games will reach as many listeners as South Florida's will on stations mostly in small towns.

As Central Florida moved toward I-A status last year, more players from outside the area surfaced. The summer roster, which featured 102 players, had only 25 Central Florida products, while 50 of 89 USF players were homegrown.

UCF faces a difficult Catch-22. The Division I-A jump finds the Knights facing a much tougher schedule, including season opening games with Ole Miss, South Carolina and Nebraska. Meanwhile, the Bulls, who passed on an opportunity to play UCF, kick off their I-AA campaign against Kentucky Wesleyan, The Citadel and Drake.